Early election boat sails

Daily Media Wrap: Kevin Rudd had the chance to call an early election, one he probably would have won easily, but he didn't and now the election is a far deadlier fight.

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Rudd’s old foe Mark Latham has reared up in his regular column in the Financial Review today to crow about how silly Kevin was not to call a double dissolution on climate change when the going was good: i.e. earlier this year.

Pundits like Barrie Cassidy are also using the wisdom of hindsight to wag their finger at the Prime Minister, who, we can safely assume, is acutely aware of the fact that had he called the election early, life would be a whole lot easier for him right now.

Now Rudd’s facing the prospect of far deadlier fight: and as commentators are pointing out, in what could be the final parliamentary sitting before the election, the PM is scrambling to steer the conversation away from RSPT-related matters, and back to family friendly stuff like paid parental leave, which is expected to be passed in the Senate today.

…things aren’t as bad as the doom merchants are making out — but it may not be long before they are.

Last week Antony Green raised the idea of an August election. If you’re wondering about the science of election date choosing, First Dog covered it well in his cartoon yesterday. Parliamentarians and press gallery members alike relished the chance to take their minds off federal election speculation to frock up for the Midwinter Ball last night (no Malcolm Turnbull in sight), but this morning it’s back to business — resume the election speculation, name calling and RSPT hand wringing — here’s what the commentariat are saying this morning:

The biggest question of all: how did it go so wrong? Hubris is one answer. Rudd thought he was having a permanent love affair with the Australia people and, no matter when he called the election, he would romp in. Mark Arbib and Karl Bitar told him not to go early and he was foolish enough to listen to them. This is the problem with the NSW Right: they can tell you what the focus groups said last night, but they have no idea about political trends six months from now.

Perhaps the only chance Rudd has now, is as Michelle Grattansuggests in today’s Age, is by changing the political conversation:

Rudd is desperate to change the conversation. The passage of the parental leave scheme – which is imminent – is a positive, solid achievement giving him something to spruik. And the more controversial plan to extend welfare income quarantining in the Northern Territory has the government sounding tough.

The PM has milked these issues for all they are worth, not just their substance but also to conjure up the impression the government faced serious obstacles erected by the opposition.

Rudd’s choice? Stick to these issues or risk turning back to address the RSPT issue, which just won’t go away.

I can’t help but remember Robert Menzies’ words to Harold Holt when Holt took over the Prime Ministership: “look after Arthur”. He was, of course, referring to Arthur Calwell, the rather ineffective Leader of the Opposition, who had a charismatic and dynamic deputy waiting in the wings. Now, no-one thinks Julie Bishop is charismatic, or dynamic, or even competent.

But Malcolm Turnbull is. Mr Rudd is chancing his arm on Mr Abbott’s incompetence (and Abbott is a worse Opposition leader than Calwell, previously the worst Opp. Leader we had) by giving him little victories, thereby giving the illusion of effectiveness. As long as Mr Abbott and his confederacy of dunces remain in charge of the Liberal Party, the ALP will win. Mr Rudd understands this – and is working as best as he can to ensure it.

The PM has always said that he would not go to an early election, if he did would that have been heralded as yet another backflip? Now that he hasn’t everyone is going to bone him for that, He can’t win no matter what he does!

In 2007 anybody that was not-Howard would have won. Once you’ve been around so long that you’re on the nose then you’re gone for all money. Like many before him, Howard’s ego would not let him hand over the reins.

The apparent swing towards the Greens is the electorate saying “a pox on both your houses”.

Sickofitall – you need to get past the Turnbull thing. He failed dismally and therefore won’t be a Liberal option for at least 5 years. His place will be front bench at best where he’ll have to lie in the bed he made.

Had he stood up for the majority of Australians when they needed him, he’d be a shoe in.

Costello would also be a shoe-in had he sat and waited – if he ever really wanted to be PM, his decision to retire mid-term was more disastrous than not challenging Howard. Anyone with half a brain could see that Rudd was on the tipping point 18 months ago and the population were cryiong out for an alternative.

So Abbott is probably the 3rd option in terms of going from Opp leader to PM, but you must give him credit for firstly taking an almost impossible job, and secondly for getting this close to a single term PM.

Rudd would have won comfortably at the beginning of this year and he will comfortably win the election later this year. Too many people are letting some poll turbulence blind them to the underlying strengths of the competing sides. This government has a long way to go yet and a mere attack dog and easy one-liner spiv is not going to change that.

Abbott is the most unsubstantial leader since Downer since Downer did his unedifying prance across the political stage. Turnbull is no fool and he can clearly see how short Abbott’s shelf life is and also how windy and lard-arsed the other alternative is. That is why he is sticking around and is likely to be opposition leader at some point during Labor’s next term.

In election mode Labor has a team and the coalition has a second eleven. Greg Hunt is ok and now that rudd has delayed the ETS Hunt can say what he likes without being a hypocrite. Robb comes across alright but after that its all tail enders.Dutton would be sacked from a funeral parlour for being too dour and dodgy. Andrews, Bishop , either one and Ruddock has no actual frontline act but having him in the team reeks of same old same old. Abbott just hasn,t the skill or whatever you want to call it to play it straight when it comes to debates or policy. Its not a transaction between the party and the public to him but a verbal barny with the government. Schoolboy debating is his forte. As an aside what actual boxing did Abbott ever do other training ? Is his boxing the same as Howards alleged passion for cricket. I find it very odd that a so called cricket tragic never belonged to a local club even if it was to be orange boy or scorekeeper. Dont boxers have bouts amateur or not and they are recorded ? So whats Abbotts record in that department, nil nil like Howard and cricket maybe.

@Billy Blogs: I neither support nor oppose Malcolm Turnbull. You’re mostly right, but it won’t stop the destabilisation of any Liberal/National coalition when an ambitious and ego-driven man is behind anyone else.

I think Abbott took the job because it was forced on him. I think all he wanted was the removal of Turnbull (whether rightly or wrongly, I couldn’t care less), and realising that Sloppy Joe wasn’t up to the task, was forced in to try and draw as many votes away from Turnbull as he could. Stupidly, (as far as the plan went) he drew the votes to himself.

Abbott is on record as saying nobody was more surprised when he won the leadership ballot than he was himself. He then went on to say that he’d give it his best shot and if that he realizes he may end up as “political roadkill”.

Turnbull’s ego was stroked into standing again to keep Wentwoth as a Liberal seat. He was never a politician and made the best move when he said he was resigning. His decision to stand again shows that he has not improved his judgement skills since he sat down with with Godwin Grech.

I,m with you on that one Jeebus. I cannot understand having the filter policy at all or the dodgy arguments used to defend it. My main objection besides the many flaws is that it goes against the principles of a democratic society. A secret black list ? Thats not fighting illegal nasties thats subversion of education/information on things that right wing christian lobbies dont like. I dont like churches being tax exempt but dont lobby to get them to pay their due. Those buggers have to put their nose into all walks of life invited or not. When I cant wipe myself because of sickness I,ll remove myself and if the info isn,t on the net it just means it may be more messy than otherwise. God help us from pompous christians.

Sickofitall and Socratease – it just goes to show how desperate the public are for someone other than Rudd. Here we have a liberal leader who’s taken his party from oblivion to contender in 6 months – and he didn’t really want the job.

Mind you, I think he’s done a good job regardless of what many on here think – you can’t go from where he was, to where he is without doing somehting right.

Socratease, Sickofitall, Billy – Wasn’t Abbott just a pawn of Minchin to put down a possible coup of the Turnbull small-L-liberals? Restoring the conservative base?

To some kingmakers like Minchin, the rise and fall of factions — seats and individual nominations — is more important than whether the party wins government or not. Minchin was doing OK in his Senate seat whatever happened to the party. I would love to know the real story of why he left.